Visa requirement to be imposed on Venezuelan nationals

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Ecuador will soon begin requiring Venezuelan nationals to obtain a visa before entering the country.

What does the change mean? Currently, Venezuelan nationals can enter Ecuador on the basis of a passport or national ID. Once the change takes effect, Venezuelan nationals planning travel to Ecuador will be required to obtain a Humanitarian Visa or other visa before entering the country.

• Implementation time frame: Ongoing. The change will take effect in about a month.
• Visas/permits affected: Humanitarian Visas, other Ecuadorian visas available to Venezuelan nationals.
• Who is affected: Venezuelan nationals planning travel to Ecuador.
• Impact on processing times: The process of obtaining a visa may delay travel plans for some Venezuelan nationals.
• Next steps: It is not clear at this point whether visas will be available at the border or whether Venezuelan nationals will be required to obtain them at an Ecuadorian Consulate. Under a decree that Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno signed on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will determine how visa issuance will be handled.

Background: The decree also states that Venezuelan nationals currently in Ecuador will be able to regularize their status, even if they have overstayed, provided they entered the country legally. Officials said that 320,000 Venezuelans have entered Ecuador because of the economic and political situation in Venezuela, and that the number could reach 500,000 by the end of the year.

Analysis & Comments: Several Latin American countries have changed immigration and entry procedures for Venezuelans in recent months, with Chile and Peru among those that have imposed visa requirements. Venezuelan nationals should note that visas will soon be required for Ecuador as well and should plan accordingly.

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